Toy figure



April 26, 1960 c. c. LAVAL, .JR

TOY FIGURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30. 1956 INVENTOR HUEBNEI?,BEEHLER,

WOR/PEL 8 HERZ/6 CLAUDE C. LAVAL,J?.

April 26 1960 c. c. LAVAL, JR 2,933,853

Toy FIGURE Filed Aug. 50. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f77 Q73 /70 m 7| ze (7ln M a /53 "5 l" i Yc/ Auof c. LAVAL, JR. /NVENTOR HUEBNER, BEE HLER,

WORRE L 8 HE RZ/G AWO/mfr;

t ToY FIGURE y Claude C. Laval, Jr., Fresno, Calif. Application August30, 1956, Serial N0. 607,060

Claims. (Cl. l16m-228) The present invention relates to figured toys ordolls and more particularly to such toys in which provision is made forillumination of portions thereof from internally of the toys.

In advertising, it has been well-known to illuminate certain features offigures representative of animals and the like to achieve specialeffects. It has also been known to illuminate certain features of toys,dolls, and puppets from internally thereof so vthat the toys may becarried about without interference with theillumination. This has beenpleasing to children, productive of humorous effects, suited to theattracting of attention, and adapted to emphasize particularcharacteristics of the toys. Prior to the present invention, suchillumination has been accomplished by employing light bulbs in thefeatures to be illuminated. While, for example, the employment of a redlight bulb as the nose of Rudolph the red nosed reindeer has beeneffective, suchiutili zation of light bulbs has proved disadvantageous.Where several features are to be illuminated, a multiplicity of bulbsare required and even though of a small size they utilize lexcessiveelectrical energy in toys in which the source of the energy is batteriescontained within the toys. Ideally, a single flashlight battery in sucha toy should be adequate for several months of normal-use andsuchdurability cannot .be attained where numerous bulbs are. employed.Further, because of the ,particular features being simulated, lightllbulbs of specialized and intricate configurationhave frequently beenrequired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideimprovements in the illumination of toys of the character described. vv; v

Another object is to illuminate various predetermined features of afigured toy from asingle light source.

Another object is to provide illuminating means for the simulation ofthe features of vanimals and the like which is suited to 'readyformatiorrin as intricate con? figurations as' may be desired. ,f l .l

Another object is to provide a sourceof fiashinglight for illuminatingselected portions of a doll or figured toy, such as simulated eyes,thereby to give the appearance of flashing eyes. v l l;

. An'other vobject is to ylight various portions of a dollfor figuredtoy and to enable control of light emissionfin response to predeterminedmovements of the toy. l

-Another object is to provide a doll having eyes adapted l to light upand eyelids that close coincidentally with interf .trates Patent 'aPatented pr. 2d, 1960 Ficc . 2 toy rabbit incorporating the principlesof the present invention.

F Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is asomewhat enlarged, longitudinal section taken on a vertical plane at aposition represented by line 3-3 of Fig. 2.l Fig. 4 is a transversesection taken on a horizontal plane at a position represented by line4-4 0f Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a somewhat enlarged section taken on a vertical plane at aposition indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 3. l Fig. `6 is a fragmentaryvertical section of the head of a doll illustrating in particular afurther feature of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on a plane at a positionrepresented by line 7'-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a doll is generallyindicated by the numeral 10 in Figs. l and 2. As employed herein, dollis intended in a broad sense to include all three dimensional figuressuitable for the purpose of the present invention. For purposes ofdescriptive convenience, the doll includes a body 11 simulating theappearance of a rabbit. The body has a substantially fiat base portion12 to enable resting the toy on a flat surface, a rearwardly extendedtail 13, a pair of forwardly extended feetv 14, a pair of forwardlyextended arms 15, a head portion 16, and a pair of ears 17 upwardlyextended from the head portion. The head portion has eye apertures 13substantially diametrically 0pposed to each other on opposite sides ofthe head portion, and a nose aperture 20 between and slightly below thelevel of the eye apertures in the front of the head por tion, alllocated in a manner best suited to accurate rab- Vbit simulation.

The body 11 of the toy 10 is preferably opaque and is convenientlyconstructed of an outer fabric cover 25 of fuzzy material, simulatingthe fur of a rabbit, and enclosing a hollow interior 26 filled with anysuitable stuffing 27 to give shape to the body. Looped wires 28 areprovided within the ears 17 for reinforcing them and causing them tostand upwardly fromthehead portion An elongated substantiallycylindrical housing 35 preferably of electrically non-conductivematerial is extended longitudinally within the body 11 and thus providesan open upper end adjacent to the head portion 16 and an-internallythreaded open lower end in the base portion-12 accessible from outsideof the body through l an opening inthe fabric cover 25. A substantiallycylinf drical fitting 38 is secured within the upper end ofthe housingby means of a threaded bolt 39 and has an annular shoulder 40 rested onthe upper edge of the housing.

ruption of light emissionrfrom the eyes and that open The fittingprovides an upwardly disposed, internally threaded outer socket 41bottomed by a plate 42 transi verse'ly disposed in the housing.

A Vlight bulb receptacle 46 of substantially cylindrical,

f tubular form provides a lower fianged rim 47 seated von the plate 42and secured thereto by means of an electrically conductive bolt 49providing a threaded shank 50 concentrically extended through the platedownwardly into the housing 35, and a head 51 above the rim. An annulargromrnet 53 of insulating material is fitted laround the Vshank betweenthe rim and the head of the bolt so that` the bolt is in insulatedspaced relation to the recep-y tacle. A nut 54 is screw-threadablyvturned on the shank for securing the receptacle on theV plate. Thus,the receptacle provides an inner screw-threaded socket 55 ,Eigpl is a,side elevation,` partially` sectiomvof Aa i which i's in concentricposition within the outer socket 41. K

A light bulb provides a transparent envelope 61 and anthreaded base 62constituting a contact for the bulb when screwed into the receptacle 46,a downwardly exs tended boss 63 constituting another contact for thebulb and engaging the head 51 of the bolt 49. The bulb also has aninsulator 66 mounted within the envelope, a first filament mounting post67 embedded in the insulator and extended upwardly therefrom, a secondfilament mounting post 68 embedded in the insulator and extended up:wardly therefrom in spaced relation to the'first post, and anincandescent filamentl 69 constituting alight source electricallyinterconnecting the upper ends of the mounting posts. Because of theopaque body 11, the light source is invisible exteriorly of the body.Further, a connecting element 70 is also embedded in the insulator andis bent so as to extend downwardly therefrom. A bi-metallic strip 71provides an upper end 72 secured to the second mounting post 68 and alower end 73 releasably engaging the connecting element.

A pair of batteries 78 is slidably fitted in the housing 35 and provideterminals 79 and 80 of opposite polarities at opposite ends thereof andconcentric to the housing. An insulated spacer block 83 of substantiallycylindrical form is slidably fitted in the housing between ,the fitting38 and the battery 7S. An elongated electrically conductive stern 84 isconcentrically extended through the block and provides a threaded upperend 85 engaging the shank 56 and a threaded lower end 86 engaging theupper terminal 80 of the upper battery. The block has con.- centricendwardly disposed cavities 87 and 88 and nuts .89 are screw-threadablyturned on the upper and lower ends of the stem for securing it inposition on the block.

A plug 95 of insulative material is screw-threadably Aturned in thelower end of the housing 35 and provides a pad 96 in opposed relation tothe lower terminal 79 of the lower battery 78. An elongatedsubstantially U- shaped conductor 97 provides an inwardly bowed centralportion 99 extended longitudinally along the housing 35 within the body11 and end portions 101.right angular- 1y `extended in a commondirection from the central portion. The end portions are respectivelyextended through the upper and lower ends of the housing so as to engagethe receptacle 46 and to be positioned below the lower terminal 79 ofthe lower battery. By threading the plug into the housing, the lower endof the conductor is compressed into engagement with the lower batteryter.- minal to energize the filament 69. Upon predetermined heating ofthe filament and therefore the interior of the envelope 61, thebi-metallic strip 71 moves away from the connecting element 70 to breakthe electrical circuit and de-energize the filament. Upon predetermineddrop of the temperature, the strip again makes contact to ener-` gizethe filament, that is, theelectrical circuit is periodically interruptedto cause the filament yto emit a fiashing light.

A light conductor is generally indicated in the drawings .by the numeral110 and includes a-substantially cylindrical cap 111 having a threadedmale base 112 screwthreadably fitted in the outer socket, arcentrallight conducting passage 113 enveloping the light bulb 60 anddiametrically opposed front, rear and side, cylindrical b ores 1 ,14opening Ifrom the passage to the exterior of the cap.

Light conducting eye rods 1,16 provide inner ends mounted in the sidebores 114 of the cap `11,1.at diametrieally opposed positions in lightintercepting relation in the passage, all as best seen in Fig. 2, andouter ends bent upwardly and extended outwardly into alignment with theeye-apertures 1S. The outer ends of the eye rods have outwardly openingconcentric bores 117 and annular grooves 118. The light conductor 110alsoV provides a nose rod ,120 having an inner end mounted infthefrout.bere 1M 0f the cap intermediate the eyerods and ,ex-

tended forwardly therefrom in alignment with the' nos@ aperture 20. Thenose rod provides an outer end also .having an outwardly .opening here12,1 and en annular groove 1.2L .Annuler dips '124 are fitted. inunserem/es nd provide thread engaging portions 125 substantiallyradially inwardly extended into the bores of theirl resp'ecf tivelyassociated rods.

Eye bolts and a nose bolt and 131 respectively provide Shanks 132 and133 respectively screw-threadably fitted into the bores 117 and 121 ofthe eye and nose rods 116 and 120. In each case, the threaded Shanks arescrew-threadably turned on the thread engaging portions 125 of theclips. The eye and nose bolts provide outwardly convex heads 135 and 136visible externally of the body 11 and compress the fabric 2 5 of thebody against their respectively associated rods. For coloring the lightconducted, filters 138 and 139 may be provided against the inner ends ofthe Shanks 132 and 133.

An elongated light conducting object illuminating rod provides an innerend mounted in the rear bore 114 of the cap 111 in light interceptingrelation to the passage 113 and an outer end extended outwardly throughan aperture in one ofthe arms 15. An object 146 of light transparentmaterial is secured to the outer end of the object illuminating rod and,as such, appears to be held in the arm of the rabbit. As illustrated,the object is intended to simulate the appearance of a carrot and thusis preferably of a corresponding color. A filter, not shown, similartothe filters 138 and 139 but yellow in color is preferably employed toimpart a natural color to the simulated carrot.

The light conductor 110 is made of a material which transmits lightlongitudinally thereof and suppresses trans mission of lighttransversely thereof. A transparent acrylic resin is excellently suitedfor this purpose. A specific example-of such a resin which is presentlybeing employed in commercial models of the invention is the 'materialknownY as Lucite. As referred to hereinafter, the light conductor has aninner light receiving end in light intercepting relation to the lightsource 69 and outer light emitting ends visible exteriorly of the body11.

Operation The operation ofthe embodiment of the subject inf vention nowdescribed is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarizedat this point.

Whenever it is desired to illuminate the eyes and nose (bolts 130 and131) of the rabbit, and the carrot 146 the plug 95 is screw-threadedinto the housing 35. An electrical circuit isl established from theupper terminal 80 of the upper battery 78, through the stem 84, theconductive bolt 49, the prong 63, the first mounting post 67, thefilament 69, the bi-metallic strip 71, the connecting element 70, thebase 62, the conductor 78, and back to the lower terminal 79.

Light from the filament 69 travels through the eye rods 116 and the noserod 120, and throughthe eye and nose belts 13oV and 131 to the heads 13sand 136 which simu-l late the eyes and nose of the rabbit. 'It will thusbe apparent Vtherefore that the 'eyes and nose of the rabbit areilluminated with whatever color light is provided by the filters 138land 139. IIn addition, light is conducted from passage 113 through theobject illuminating rod 145 to the carrot 146 so that the latter is alsoilluminated.

)In the manner above described, the filament 69 is periodicallyenergized and tie-energized by make and break of the electrical circuitso that the lightemitted from the eye and nose bolt heads 135 and 136and the carrot 146 flashes on and off. When it is desired to turn offthe light, the plug 95 is unscrewed to release the lower end 101 of theconductor 98 from contact with the lower battery terminal 79. Y

It'has Aalso been discovered ,that the flashing lights of the 'rabbitseyes, nose, and carrot tend to lull children to sleep. *When it iscontemplated that the toy will be used primarily for this purpose, atimer is preferablysubstituted for the upper f the two batteries '78 sothat the circuit `will be interrupted after a predetermined Aperiodofuse. Ihetimermay be of any suitable form and contained Ain a casingvsimilar to that shown for fthe battery and thus, being well-known' instructure and mode of operation, is not shown in the drawings.

Second form With reference to Figs. 6 and 7, there is shown' a toyV 150conveniently having the' form of a doll. The doll has a substantiallyopaque body 151 providing head portion 152 having a mouth 153, ears 154,a nose 155, and eye apertures 156 on opposite sides and above the nose.The body is also formed with a mounting portion 158 inwardly extendedbetween 'the eye apertures. The body 151 is equipped with the housing 35and its contents exactly as shown in Fig. 1. Those portions of suchstructure which are visible in Figs. 6 and 7 are identified'by similarnumerals.

A light conductor 159Vonce again includes a cap 160 mounted on the upperend of the housing 35 and having a passage 161 enveloping the light bulb60, as seen in Fig. 2.

Light conducting Veye rods 170 provide inner elbow portions `171ymounted in the cap 160 and extended into the passage 161. 'I'he innerportions of the rods also have beveled outer ends 172. The rods furtherprovide outer portions 173 having outer convex ends 174 simulating eyesfor the doll 150 and inner beveled ends 175 adapted to beoomplementarily fitted against the outer ends 172. vEyelid portions 176are integrally secured to the outer portions 173 and eyelashes 177project between the lids and the eye simulating ends 174.

A pivot rod 180 is journaled vfor rotation inthe mounting portion 158 ina substantially horizontal lposition transversely behind theeye-apertures 156, The outer portions 173 are secured onoppos'iteends ofthe pivot rod for movement between positions aligned with'the innerportions 171 and the eye apertures 156 and posiinvention 4enables theillumination of various ,portions of a simulated animal, or, the like,from a common light source by means of a system of light conductorsextended lfrom the source of light to the area of the toy which iis tobe lighted. This permits a more efficient utilization of the availablelight and electrical energy than previously possible. Further, theinvention contemplates the provision of a flashing light and a lightconducting arrangementwhich cooperates with the eyes of a doll, or liketoy, so` as to establish and to interrupt predetermined paths for thelight as the attitude of the toy is changed. ,Y Although the inventionhas been herein' shown and described in what is conceived to be the mostpractical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that `departuresmay be made therefrom within the scope of the l invention, which is notto be limited to the details distions displaced from such alignment.When in their positions of'alignment, the outerand inner ends 172 and,175 of the inner and outer portions 171 and 173 are in ush engagementand -the eye simulating outer ends 174 are in registration with the eyeapertures so, as to be visible externally of the body. Whenintheirdisplaced or retracted positions, the eyelid portions 176 cover the eyeapertures 156'thereby creating the appearance that the eyes of the dollare closed. Pendent bars 181 are connected to opposite ends of the pivotrod and support weights 182 in downwardly spaced relation to the pivotrod. A single weight is of course adequate for the purpose.

=In operation, when the body 151 of the doll 150 is in upright position,the weights 182 hang gravitationally downwardly from the pivot rod 180to urge the outer portions 173 of the eye rods 170` into alignedpositions with the inner portions. Upon energization of the filament 69as seen in Fig. v2, light is conducted from the passage 161 in the cap160 through the rods 170 to the outer ends 174 thereof to cause the eyesof the doll to light up.

so that light emerged from the outer ends 172 of the inner portions 171is not directed through the outer portions 173. Further, the outer eyesimulating ends 174 are shielded by the body 151 from view externally ofthe body and the eyelid portions 176 cover the eye apertures 156. Aslong as the doll is reclined and the-head portion remains tilted, nolight emerges through the eye apertures 156 and the doll is insimulatedy sleeping condi? tion. By merely placing the doll in uprightposition, however, continuity in the light passage is restored and theeyes once again are illuminated.

From the foregoing. it will be evident that an appealing figured toy ordoll has been provided. The subject closed herein but is to be accordedthe full scope of the claims so las to embrace any and all equivalentdevices and apparatus. i s

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A ligure toy comprising a body, a light source mounted in the body soas to be invisible exteriorly of the body, and a light conductor havinga light receiving end and a light emitting end, said conductor beingadapted to transmit light longitudinally to suppress light passagetransversely thereof, a light confining member surrounding the lightsource and having light outlet means, and means mounting the lightconductor on the b'ody for movement between an intercepting positionwith the light receiving :end intercepting light from the outlet meansof the confining member surrounding the light source and with the lightemitting end visible exteriorly of the body so that .light istransmitted through the conductor from the source to the exterior of thebody, and a position with the light receiving .end displaced from lightreceiving position so that no light from the'source is able to passthrough the conductor whereby no light from the source is visibleexteriorly of the body, and means connected tothe mounting means formoving the conductor between said positions, said confining memberlrestricting passage of light therethrough except for passage of lightthrough saidoutlet means and therefore allowing light passage throughsaid conductor when the receiving end thereof is in said interceptingposition.

2. A figure toy comprising a body having predetermined upright andreclining positions, a light source mounted in the body in a positioninvisible from the exterior of the body, a light confining membersurrounding the light source and having light outlet means, an elongatedlight conduit having a light emitting end and a light receiving endadapted to receive light for transmission to the emitting end, meansmounting the light conduit in the body for movement between anintercepting position with the light emitting Vend visible externally ofthe body and with the light receiving end interceptf ing light from theoutlet means of said confining member for transmission through theconductor so that light is transmitted through the conductor from thesource to the exterior of the body and a retracted position wherein thelight receiving end is displaced fromlight intercepting position so thatno light from the source passes through the conductor whereby no lightfrom the source is visible exteriorly of the body, said confining memberrestricting passage of light therethrough except for passage of lightthrough said outlet means and therefore allowing light passage throughlsaid conductor when the receiving end thereof is in said interceptingposition, and gravitationally responsive means connected to the conduitmounting means for locating the light conductor in light interceptingposition when the body is in predetermined upright position and fordisplacing the conduit from said position when the body is in reclinedposition.

3. In a doll having upright and reclined positions and having a headportion providing an eye aperture, a light ansa-eos 7 source, meansmounting theV light source within the body so as to be invisible fromthe exterior of the body; a iight confining member surrounding the lightsource and having light voutlet means, a light conductor having a lightreceiving end and an opposite convex light emittingend simulating an eyeof the doll, means mounting the-conductor for pivotal movement betweenan interceptingA position when the doll is upright with the lightreceiving end aligned with the outlet means of said confining member andthe light emitting end registering with the eye aperture whereby lightfrom the source is transmitted through the conductor so as to be visibleexternally of the body from the light emitting end of the'conductor, anda retracted position whenthe doll is reclined with the light receivingand emitting ends out of alignment with the source and eye apertures,respectively, so thatI no light from the source is transmittedexteriorly of the body through the conductor; said confining memberrestricting passage of light therethrough except for passage of lightthrough said outlet means and therefore allowing light passage throughsaid conductor when the receiving end thereof is in said interceptingposition; and a weight dependently suppoited on the conductor for urgingthe conductor into said aligned and retracted positions.

4. A doll adapted for movement between predetermined upright andreclined positions comprising a body having a head portion providing apair of eye apertures; alight source; means mounting said source in thebody; a cap'of light conductive material having a chamber receiving thelight source; a pair of eye rods of light conductive material adapted totransmit light longitudinally thereof and to suppress light transverselythereof having inner portions connected to the cap in light receivingrelation to the chamber and outer portions separable from theirrespective inner portions and having convex ends simulating eyes for thedoll; means mounting the outer portions of the rods for pivotal movementbetween positions aligned with the inner portions with the outer endsfitted in the eye apertures for transmitting light therethrough to theouter ends so as to be visible externally of the body, and retractedpositions displaced from said light transmitting position; and weightsdependently supported from the outer portions for urging the outerportion into 8 aligned positions when the doll is upright and into re'-tracted positions when the doll is reclined.

5. In combination with a hollow body having a peripheral surfaceincluding a predetermined area to be illuminated and a light sourcemounted within the body adapted upon energization to emit light in alldirections therefrom, a light conducting system f or directingsubstantially all of the `light from the source toward said area of thebody whereby the rest of the body is not illuminated by the sourcecomprising an elongated light conduit having a light receiving endportion wholly enclosing the source, a light emitting end adjacent toand pointing toward said area to be illuminated, and an axiallylongitudinally extended light conducting path, said conduit beingadapted to transmit light longitudinally thereof and vto suppress lightpassage transversely thereof whereby light is transmitted to said areafrom the source when the latter is energized, the conduit including aportion mounted in the body for movement between a position in saidlight conducting path and a position out of said light conducting pathwhereby said light path is interrupted and conduction of light from thesource to said area is precluded, and means connected to the movableportion for controlling the position thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,157,119 Mori Oct. 19, 1915 V1,260,133 Birdsall Mar. 19, 1918 1,805,823Heilweil May 19, 1931 e1,877,940 Morgenstern et al Sept. 20, 19322,254,715 Tuller Sept. 2, 1941 l2,304,888 Davis Dec. 15, 1942 2,316,589Iwanowicz Apr. 13, 1943 2,367,858 Flynn Jan. 23, 1945 2,420,772 DaltonMay 20, 1947 2,481,736 Foerster Sept. 13, 1949 l2,490,830 Norton Dec.13, 1949 2,604,728A Nudelman July 29, 1952 2,605,385 Levinson July 29,1952 2,627,590 Ohlund Feb. 3, 1953

